Cibo Espresso

Always good coffee here even though part of the ever growing chain. Quite busy but quick staff ensure waiting is kept to a minimum. Nice range of foods /​cakes too here but I managed to resist… today!

They know exactly how I like my latte Freddo. The coffee itself isn’t that bad at all.
The service is a tad slow if you need a takeaway but great place for tasty caffeine fix.
I wish the cakes weren’t so overpriced.

The coffee snob in my always says «It’s alright… for a chain café.»
The truth is, Cibo is better that alright, but doesn’t get my five stars. Adelaide has plenty of competition to be the very best from smaller more boutique coffee shops that either have time or make time to make your coffee with love and care. Still, Cibo my first stop whenever I return home to Adelaide and I am never disappointed by my brew, except for that one time…
When I need my coffee fix to go, «I choose you, Cibo!»
There are more interesting and homely places to sit and have a coffee, and good coffee deserves an atmosphere. The food is expensive and fairly fast food-​ish. The cakes are tasty enough, but I don’t write home about them. If you have time to sit, I would suggest taking a short walk and visiting one of the many award winning cafes that Adelaide has to offer on almost every street corner.
In short, Cibo gets my big tick, but isn’t my all time favourite.

Cibo cafes are pretty ordinary at there best, and Rundle St is okay, but the Parade is the low end of the scale. As other reviewers have noticed the staff are self absorbed and pretty much useless. The coffee is rarely above reasonable but you have to wait for a long time and it just isn’t worth it. Actually nowhere on the parade is that great anymore.
And they sell the usual prepaid and dried out, overpriced food.
Go anywhere but there.

I warily accepted a friends invitation to grab a coffee here and regret doing so. I’d snubbed Cibo for years because of what people had told me, so I had pre-​conceptions; unfortunately they were all met.
I soon learnt 95%+ of their coffee is sold white for a reason… I ordered an espresso and it arrived undrinkable. Horribly over extracted, watery, bitter.
The crema was nearly black, clinging to the side of the cup; it looked and smelt burnt before I even tried it.
The fact that you need milk to flatten and dull coffee out is a complete contradiction to the name of the business.
When there’s businesses offering coffee with marked roast dates and origins within a 200m walk of here it blew me away the number of customers they served in the time we sat there.
I can see it’s some peoples thing given the popularity but not mine.

I don’t totally understand why everyone loves this place so much. Yes, the coffee is good, but when you’re on the Parade you can’t throw a dollar without hitting a great coffee.
I find the store really cramped at the best of times, especially if you’re waiting for takeaways. There’s nowhere that isn’t blocking one of the two entrances to wait for your coffee, so you end up constantly dodging other patrons and feeling entirely in the way. Relaxed, it’s not.
Secondly, as Rani says — it feels like fast, impersonal service. I like getting to know my local baristas, or even just have a warm greeting. At Cibo the service has ranged from impersonal politeness to one girl who puts off a complete «get out of my face» vibe. It doesn’t have a very welcoming feel to it for me personally.

Cibo is an excellent coffee shop, and its consistency across all of its locations is worthy of applause. The Norwood branch is definitely the best one, and this comes down mainly to its atmosphere and location.
The ambience at this particular Cibo is much better than others. It’s more spacious, has more outdoor seating, and is generally well organised for an al fresco setting. I can’t think of a better spot to enjoy a relaxing coffee in the afternoon. The outdoor heating is also a bonus for winter weather, and provides concession for the smokers braving the cold.
As for the coffee and food, it’s not too different from any of the other Cibo stores — and this is definitely a good thing! The coffee is superb and the food is reasonably priced and delicious — especially the piadinas and focaccias. The only downside I can think of may be that service is a little slower here, as it can get quite busy during the afternoon and early evening. On the other hand, the staff is always polite and friendly, and are quick to clean up dirty tables. There aren’t enough faults to deprive Cibo of a single star.

The Cibo at Norwood is nothing special but it is always packed. It is located conveniently near the main shops and shopping centre, making it a perfect place to stop and have a break before or after shopping. There is limited seating inside and out. This means you often struggle to find a table on the weekends and sometimes during after school rushes. They would do well if they expanded and created a larger indoor seating area.
The coffee at Cibo’s is always good. It’s a good temperature, the perfect flavour and I guarantee it tastes exactly the same every time you go. I know caffeine is slightly addictive, but Cibo coffee is extremely addictive. I start having cravings at about 11am every morning.
Cibo at Norwood is convenient. It’s fast, tastes good and is in a great location. Even if you just purchase a takeaway I promise it will brighten up your day.

Cibo on Norwood Parade is one of the smallest outlets of this franchise and one of the busiest.
I swear, if they took over Diva next door they would still be full to capacity 80% of the time. There are always people hovering in the Norwood Place mall for tables which adds to its popularity and atmosphere.
In the winter, heat lights under the large, red Cibo umbrellas keep you warm and cosy. The same umbrellas block the sun in the summer and there’s enough breeze to make it bearable, even on a 35 degree day (a cone of gelati will help too).
This Cibo offers the same range of wraps, italian sandwiches, salads, pastries and gelati as all the other stores. The majority of staff here are Italian (not surprising for Norwood) which adds to its appeal.
My only complaint would be I was a regular there for months but never felt acknowledged. Pathetic, I should care, but when they opened a new store on Hutt Street, I jumped ship and get a warm welcome by name every day. It’s the little things that count.
Cibo Norwood is open extended hours seven days a week at the entrance of the Parade Central Mall (Foodland) at the pedestrian crossing between Edward Street and George Street.

I must say I have been to most CIbo’s around Adelaide. I have a very «foody» friend from Sydney and when he visied Adelaide for the first time I took him to this Cibo. He was so impressed he told me he «Cibo’d» Adelaide. This particular outlet is consistently good and has a great cosmopolitan feel, situated in the heart of Norwood. There is probably more seating outside than inside so it can feel a bit squeezy when it is busy.
The staff, are often of Italian descent which makes it feel all the more authentic, and are very friendly and know all the regulars. Even though CIbo is a franchise it still maintains its personal feel.

You mean… I can sit down with my coffee?
I feel this is a rarity amongst most Cibo outlets where people have to line the walls while they wait and generally won’t find somewhere to sit once their order is ready. This has happened to me on many occasions at Cibo, but never in Norwood. The service is fast and friendly and the coffee is just as grand.
Im a pretty happy camper when I’m lounging outside on the Cibo chairs, nursing a vanilla milkshake (my favourite) and the latest Advertiser. I think it has something to do with where it’s situated as well, it’s a really pleasant atmosphere, especially in the evening.
Very appropriate to have a Cibo in Little Italy.